The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-01-13
GETTYSBURG.
A Comrsde Gives His Reasons for Thinking Il n
Decisive Battle.

COmrade Gives His Reasons for Thinking II a
Decisive Battle.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your issue
OF Dec. 80, 1856 rs a series Of questions pro-
pounded by Geo. w. Dixon. Slst Ohio, Lima, o.,
on the decisveness of Gettysburg as a battle.
Craving pardon for the temerity which prompts
me 10 reply, will state the following facts as
being in my opinion sufficient TO confirm the
claim that Gettysburg was the decisive battle
of the war.
First.-The military power Of the Confeder-
acy was chiefly concentrated in Nirginia-in
point Of numbers aud the genius of the COM
mander of the grand army of Northern Nir-
gnia. The seat of its political power was at
Richmond. After the defeat at Gettysburg the
Coniederacy declined in both political and mill
tary power
second.-To rightly understand the object of
campag n, not only its tactical and strategical
but its political aims should be fairly stated.
As understand il, Gen. Lee invaded the North
with the intention of capturing the cities OF
Washington, Harrisburg. Baltimore, and Phila-
| delphia by the destruction of the offensive
! power OF the Army of the Potomac, and by that
destruction TO secure a firm footing on Northern
soil, that the promises Of England could be full
! nlled that If Gen. Lee could obtain decisive
victory over the Army Of the Potomac, and
show his ability TO maintain himself on North
ern soil, England would recognize the Southern
Confederacy and support the same.
Third.-The defeat Of the Army of the Poto-
mac would secure TO Gen. Lee full supplies OF
material for the support of his army, and render
il perfectly safe for him to turn either west or
east and capture and destroy at his will.
Fourth.-At this time Lees army was in the
zenith Of its power, having something over
10000 men in its ranks of all arms, while the
Army Of the Potomac had been seriously de-
pleted by the discharge Of nine months men
and detachments sent TO quel riots in Northern
cities, and thus was given Lee the largest OPP
portunity of striking a decisive blow that he
ever had while in command of the Army OF
Northern Virginia. All of this was defeated
by the tenacious stand on the nights of Gettys-
burg.
Fifth.-It was decisive in this, that II de-
stroyed 10000 men of Lees army as an aggres-
siye force against the integrity of the Union,
and from this depletion his army never re-
covered.
Sixth.-It brought to naught his plan Of in
vasion and capture Of Northern cities. and the
recognition of the Southern Confederacy by
England and other foreign powers.
Seventh.-lt renewed the confidence and
energy of that grand old army which in all its
struggles ever kept its heart in deep loyalty TO
the best interests of the Union, and which
finally became conQueror of that eyer-gallant
and brave Army OF Northern kirginia-its
worthy foe on SO many fields Of courage-at
Appomattox Courthouse, under that able Cap
tain, Gen. U. s. Grant. As an illustration Of
the strategical defeat, will cite the battle Of
Chickamauga as proving my position on Grants
strategy Bragg tactically defeated Rosecrans
but came short Of his objective, which was
Chattanooga. Grant gained q victory andS
decisive one when he whipped Bragg later at
Chattanooga. He saved the Army of the Cum
berland andheld his objective, Chattanooga.
Lee neither gained his object strategically
nor tactically. he lost both and barely saved
his army. Generally in the East, if we held
our ground after the usual slaughter we did
well. believe the Army of the Cumberland
made Longstreet's acquaintance at Chicka-
manga, bit we had him continually 10 fight for
nearly four years; so if we did not capture
State with single battle, we were content TO
hold our own.
When Gen. Grant came from the West the
Army OF Northern Virginia was very seri-
onsly depleted and no one knows what would
have become of Grant and Meade il Lee had
had his 10000 fighting men TO have hurled at
Grants center In the Wilderness. No doubt the
loss Of 10000 men in the hills of PENNSYLVANIA
and on her rockbound nights of Gettysburg
will answer the question. Gettysburg was not
only decisive of the downfall OF the rebellion,
but also Of the military fame Of Grant and
Meade; for IL Lee had had his veterans in the
Wilderness that he lost on the nights of Gettys-
burg, we should most likely have been defeated
Notwithstanding the great military genius of
Grant-NELsoN V. HUTCHINSON, Corporal,
Co. *, 9TH Mass, North Arlington, Mass.